Teaching The Value Of God’s Word

Psalm 119:1-24

The one hundred nineteenth Psalm is the longest chapter in the Bible, with a hundred seventy six verses in the modern scriptures.   As written, in Hebrew, it was song divided into twenty two verses, identified alphabetically by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, just as we would list them as A, B, C, etc.   It was written specifically to drive home the need and benefits of learning God’s Word and calls on the students to commit to following the scriptures.  . 

ALEPH

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.   I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Psalm 119:1-8)

Those who have been faithful in keeping God’s commands, devoting themselves to him receive his blessings.  There is no deliberate sin in the lives, and they do what is right because they follow his principles of live as he commanded.  We will not be ashamed when we follow his commands but can confidently face anyone with nothing to hide, but the first step is to learn what he has commanded, as we see in John 14:21.  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

BETH

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalm 119:9-16)

If a young person wants to correct things in his life, he needs to start by paying attention to God’s Word.  The Psalmist has wholeheartedly sough what God wants and asks that he be prevented from straying far from them.  He has memorized and studied the scriptures in an effort to ensure he would not go against God, and asks that God teach him what the laws actually mean.  He has said them aloud to help fix them in his mind, rejoicing in the promises as much as if he had received a gift.  He promises to respect the commands, giving them serious thought , and will not forget them.

 He is committed to doing what II Timothy 2:15 commands.   “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  

GIMEL.

“Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.  Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. (Psalm 119:17-24)

In singing the song, the student then asks that God would bless him with a deep understanding of God’s law, because he is just a human being with limited knowledge.  He longs to know what God wants, knowing how he has punished the proud.  Leaders have mocked him for  his insistence on following god, and he asks that they might realize it was important.  John 16:13 promises that the Holy Spirit will teach those who study.  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”  God will bless anyone who cares enough to obey what he said.